Saturday, 18 April 2009
When foreign capital got an access to undertaking of oil operations on the Caspian Sea, all controlling bodies had to control more carefully activity of contractors' companies - because the cost of the matter is quite high.
It is hardly worthy of explanation, that the Caspian Sea is a water reservoir, which is unique on all parameters. And on this reason it requires a special attitude to itself.
However, it is clear not always and not to everyone. The talk is about the certain representatives of the foreign companies, which are eager to avoid Kazakhstani ecologic legislation.
Just to remind, that more than ten companies work on developing of the hydrocarbons reserves of the Mangistau territory, including foreign capital. By the way, it is unfair to label "not law obedient" only foreigners. Domestic representatives of business also do not differ with their excellent behavior.
However, let's speak on the topic. And for the beginning we will remind that forthcoming wide range development of sea ground on the Caspian bottom line has already created not few ecological problems.
Firstly, activity of foreign investors in Kommunay Ltd makes anyone be cautious. At the moment PM Lukas-Kazakhstan of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the order of the mentioned above company produced a project on construction of export oil pipeline via the Kaidak gulf in the Caspian sea.
This main trunk is meant for transportation of hydrocarbons from oil field Komsomolskoe, developed by Kommunay Ltd and located in the northern-eastern part of the Buzaci peninsular, up to the receive terminal, which is on the eastern coast of the Kaidak gulf. And everything would be ok, but contractors under the conditions of the crisis have decided to reduce their production expenses and reduced the route of laying oil main trunk (its total length - 80 km, and on the bottom of the gulf - 16 km). For this sake the company Ltd presented to the necessary institutes false data. Namely: the Kaidak gulf in the documents is named as a periodically flooded area. Therefore, construction norms and rules (CNR) were not taken into consideration while developing of the project of construction of oil pipeline by PM 'Lukas-Kazakhstan' company, which are not considered for laying of the pipeline via water obstacle.
In what it can be resulted?
It can be resulted in the fact that maximum revenue with the minimum of expenses of a foreign investors can lead to ecological disaster for Kazakhstan. Should an accident happen on the distance of the pipeline, which goes through the bottom of the gulf, it is almost unreal to liquidate it, i.e. to undertake repair works it is a quite problematic issue!
Let's look at the recent history. During the times of the Soviet Union the production union Yujnefteprovod (at present KazTransOil JSC) also considered a possibility of laying of the oil main line on the bottom of the gulf. But this variant was declined and prohibited by the Government for realization, because of the presence of a clear ecological threat for the Caspian basin.
What happened since then? In reality - nothing has changed! Apart from the exit to the stage of the investors with mercantile interests and absence of the social responsibility of the business, as people say today.
People do not get familiar with the map of Kazakhstan at Kommunay Ltd. Even at a glance one can understand: that the Kaidak gulf - it is not a marsh ridden location, and water mirror like surface, which is connected with the Caspian sea with all resulted from it ecological consequences applicable to the construction of the oil pipeline on the sea bottom line.
Actually, the Kaidak is a narrow and long shallow water gulf, the depth of which varies from 2 up to 6 meters. It is located in the zone of the increased dynamic capacities of the floating ice. More so, the water on this area contains less salt, what is reflected on the mechanic capacities of the ice floe. Saying in scientific terms, "it increases the limit of ice resistance and increases its dynamic firmness." The limits of these rates in this special case are around 2,5-3,68 MPa, what is equal to the ice in the Arctic seas. It means that Kaidak water object is nothing, but gulf, and in winter time there is a real threat for oil pipeline. Saying simply, it may be damaged with ice floes. It means that the accident is unavoidable!
Why investors before the start of their activity not to show decency and healthy share of responsibility on the example of their colleagues on business - international consortium Agip KCO? Before construction of the oil pipeline on the Caspian sea within the frameworks of the developing Kazshagan, which is of one of the biggest hydrocarbon deposits, in 2005 the company was approved by the government of Kazakhstan - and a special decree was issued, which authorized them to undertake the activity in the water area of the unique basin.
At the moment the oil pipeline is constructed on the bottom of the sea, put it is not put into operation. It is curious whether the hand of the ecology experts will not tremble before signing the documents on construction sphere, emergency service, as well as other members of the commission, who will be responsible for state approval, making it thereby legal, whereas illegal actions of the investors, which threat the destiny of the Caspian sea?
